Quench pot



y 9, o. c. TRAUTMAN ETAL v 2,348,232

QUENCH POT v r v Filed Feb. 20, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 39' 2" gs I l 3458 39 97 INVENTORS WILLIAM "H.WOOD and BY I OSCAR CIRAUTMAN M tam/M QATTORNEY z May 1944- Q. cQ TRAUTMAN E'r L 2,348,232

QUENCH POT Filed Feb, 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS WILLIAM H.WOQDand OSCAR C.TRAUTMAN ATTORNEYS? ITE.E

' used:

Patented May 9, 1944 I IQUENCH POT Oscar C. Trautman, Fauna, and WilliamH.

' Wood, South Euclid, Ohio Application February 20, 194.1, Serial No.379,754

14 Claims.

This invention relates to baths which are maintained at a substantiallyuniform predetermined temperature while heated material is quenchedtherein. Particularly, this invention concerns apparatus in which heatedmaterial, in the form of wire and the like, is quenched in continuousoperation by advancing into and through a liquid. Such baths are widelyused in metallurgical processes, such as the heat treatment of carbonsteel to securedeflnite desired physical conditions and qualities, as iswell understood. In these heat treatments it is usually important thatthe material, in the form of wire and the like, be quenched to adefinite narrow range of temperature uniformly from end to end of thestrand, that the wire may have the same physical structure and the samephysical qualities throughout. In quenching carbon steel, from a heatedcondition in which it is austenitic, a

slight change in quenching, in respect to speed or I temperature, mayproduce results which vary widely from those desired. .1

It is an object of this'invention to maintain uniform quenchingconditions in a bath regardless of the fact that the heatedmaterial-under treatment delivers to the bath continuously substantialquantities of heat.

Incidentally it is an object of this invention to provide apparatuswhich will, selectively and automatically, heat or cool liquid which hasbeen discharged from a bath, and return same thereto.

Also it is an object of this invention to provide apparatus inwhich'quench liquid, which has been heated by the incoming materialunder treatment, will be quickly removed from contact therewith.

And it is a further object to provide apparatus in which quench oil usedfor a secondary quench is circulated over a section of the surface of abath of molten metal, or the like, used for a primary quench.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the followingdescription setting forth in detail certain means and one mode ofcarrying out the invention. Theembodiment of our invention described ina quench bath usin molten alloy as a primary quench liquid, as installedby us in wire mills for'the heat treatment of carbon. steel wire. l hedisclosed meansand mode illustrate, however, but one of various ways inwhich the principle of the invention may be In said annexed drawings:Fig. l is a top view of apparatus embodying our invention, partly inphantom; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a.cross-sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a.crosssectional .view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram showing a hook-up for automatic control ofthe temperature of the quench bath.

The embodiment of our invention shown in said drawings is that useddnapparatus for heat treating wire in continuous operation by passingtherethrough a current of electricity supplied by a molten metal bathused as an electrode, and at maximum temperature quenching in the moltenmetal of said bath maintained at a fixed narrow range of temperature. V

A double-bottomed vessel I is formed from steel sheets by pressing partsto shape and welding together. This vessel is preferably provided with awell 2 at one end thereof. Plate 6' affixed to the bottom of vessel I onthe outside, forms a passage 3 shown as having the width'of the vessel Iand extended from the well 2 to a point beyond the opposite end ofvessel I. A motor driven blower 63' is connected to said extended end ofpassage 3 for purposes which will be here inafter explained. The end ofpassage 3 adjacent the well 2 has a downwardly faced discharge opening4. Within passage 3 heat conductive fins 5, extended longitudinally andpreferably formed of copper, are welded by one edge 5' to the bottom ofvessel I. Such fins are preferably, although not necessarily, of thesame depth as the passage 3, so as to sub-divide the latter into aplurality of channels as shown in Fig. 4.

Vessel I is placed inside a similarly shaped larger vessel 6, oroutershell, and insulating material "I is packed between the twovessels. Cover plates 8 are welded to the edges'of the upstand-' ingsides of the two vessels I and 6, covering the insulation material.

A second, or false, bottom is provided in the inner vessel I by fittinga steel plate 9 substantially from end to end thereof and amxing to thesides of vessel I by welds I0. Plate 8 terminates short of one end ofvessel I, leaving apassage II.

Toward the other end of vessel I, plate .9 is inclined upwardly in asection I2, and, instead of contacting the end wall of vessel I, is bentdownward vertically forming a wall 2I which with the end of -vesselIforms a passage I3, which in turn communicates with well 2. The space Itabovethe false bottom 9 constitutes the quench pot and Eontains themolten meta lei the quench bath, and the space below constitutes part orthe ,passage l3 into well 2 or vessel From well 2 the molten metalpasses through slot 23 to the a passage connecting thepassages- II andI3 at the respective ends of the false bottom 9, as will be hereinafterexplained.

A division plate 29 disposed substantially vertially transversely of thevessel I is welded to the plate 9 and to the sides and bottom of vessel-1 bar 30 is welded to the plate 9 transversely oi the pot I4. A shapedplate 2'! is welded to the side and end walls of ,vessel I in suchposition that it forms a transverse compartment 28. The free edge 29 ofplate 21 forms, with the bar 30, a narrow slot 26 through which moltenmetal from the compartment 26 is discharged into the quench pot I4.

A pump-well I1 is formed ,of plates and welded on the side of vesseladjacent well '2. This pump-well I|' connects with quench pot I4 throughan opening If in the wall of vessel I, in which wall there, are .alsocircular :openings leading from the pump-well II respectively into thespace enclosed by plate 9 and baifle,22, and into the passage I5. Weldedin each of said pump intake I9 and is again returned through the pump I8and discharge tube l9 into passage It for re-circulation through theapparatus.

The end wall of vessel I, adjacent compartment 29 does not rise to theheight of the side walls but terminates slightly above the level atwhich molten metal is maintained in the quench pot I4 as appears at 3|.A steel sheet 32, welded in position between the end wall of vessel andthe end wall of outside shell 6 at at point just below the top 3| oi theformer provides a bottom for a well 33 through which a notched guideroller 34 is mounted. On the outside of outer 'shell 6 on the endadjacent the well 33, steel plates 39' are welded to iorm a well 35extended transversely across the width of the quench pot H. The well 35is provided with a discharge 35 and has affixed to its outer wall, bywelding, an end of a steel trough 31 of substantially the width of thequench pot l4. Slots 38 in the end wall of the outer shell 6 and slots39 in the outer wall of the well 35 permit wires 4| to be drawntherethrough under oil 49 which is flowed from the steel trough 31,through the slots 38 and 39 apertures is a cradle, or guide I6 and I9for the support respectively of intake tube I6 and discharge tube |9 ofa pump I8, mounted in said well I1 and driven by a motor 24. The openingI" permits molten metal from quench pot M to will be placedat the top ofthe passage I5 against the plate 9. This arrang ent tends to force thehot molten metal agains the bottom of vessel I, to which bottom arewelded the heat abstracting fins 5. Having traversed the length ofpassage I5 the molten metal is discharged through passage II intocompartment 28 from whence itescapes to quench pot M in a thin fiatstream through slot 26. The continued steady supply of molten metalthrough slot 26 causes such-molten metal to overflow the end 2| of theplate 9. This continuous supply and overflow will cause the body of themolten metal to 'move steadily toward such discharge end of quench pot4. As such' molten metal approaches the section of the pot in which thewires under treatment enter the molten metal of qunch pot- I4, the speedof the flowing metal is accelerated by reason of the restriction in thecross-area of the flowing body which results from the inclination ofplate 9. ,Asa result of this acceleration, the molten metal will movefrom the hot wires 4| at a much greater speed than that at which themolten metal moves toward the entering wires. I v

The molten metal which has acquired additional heat in quenching theentering wires 4| is discharged from the quench pot l4, through intowell 33 from which it flows over end wall 3| into quench pot l4.Intermediate the ends of quench pot I4 a dam 48 is mounted transverselyof the pot, with lower edge extended slightly below the level at whichit is desired to maintain molten metal in said pot. This dam 48 isprovided throughout its length from side to side of pot I4 with a trough49 which has a discharge 59. On transverse bearing rods 5| mountedacross shell I on either side of the dam 48 are pivotally mounted aplurality of angular sinkers 5| with arms 52 operative to engage a wire4| and hold it beneath the surface of molten metal in the pot I4.

On the opposite end of outer shell 6 steel plates 42 are welded to forma well 43 which is provided with a discharge 44. The adjacent end wall45 of outer shell 6 and end wall 46 of vessel I do not rise to theheightof the side walls of said vessels, but terminate slightly above thelevel at which it is desired to maintain molten metal in quench pot I4.The upper ends of walls 45 and 46 are joined by plate 41.

- Inserted in the molten metal in pot I4 is immersed an electric device53 which is responsive to temperature changes of the molten metal. Sucha device may comprise a bi-metal strip55 mounted between twoelectrically conductive arm 56 and 51, as shown in Fig. 6. Strip 55 willbend into contact with arm 51 when cold and when the temperature of thebath has attained a desired minimum the strip 55 will break contact witharm 51. Should the' temperature of the bath rise until it attains anundesired maximum the strip 55 will bend into contact with arm 56. Asource'62 of electrical energy has one side connected with a pluralityof heating elements 25' in parallel arrangement inserted in the tubes250i the described apparatus, and also with a motor 63 driving the fan63' which discharges air into the passage 3 below vessel insaidapparatus. The opposite side of said source 62 is connected to a pivotedarm 86 operative to selectively make electrical contact with terminals64 and 65 connected respectively with the opposite sides of said heatingelements 25' and said motor 63 driving fan 53'. .The free end of pivotedarm 66 carries an armature 69 mounted between two solenoids 58 and 66,which are so connected with a battery 6i and device as. that thearmature 60 will be shifted as contact is made in device 63 betweenstrip 65 The element 63 may be a thermo-couple instead of a thermostatas shown, and the current of electricity developed therein will varywith the temperature of the molten metal, and may be used to control theoperation of the motordriven fan and the heating elements in altema',tion, by means of well-known devices, such as the controller sold underthe trade-name Wheelco.

An electrical terminal 54, which may bewater or air cooled, iselectrically connected to the steel vessel L This terminal is used whenit is desired to use the liquid of quench pot "as an electrode whenheating wire advanced into the said liquid for quenching.

In using said described embodiment of our invention, in quenching steelwire from an austenitic temperature to substantially 425 F. in a bath ofmolten alloy. as described in our Patent No. 2,224,998, the operation isas follows: Electricv current is supplied to the heating elements 25' inthe tubes 25 until the alloy in theapparatus melts and attains atemperature of approximately 425 F. at which temperature the thermostat53 inserted in the liquid alloy in the quench pot l4 opens a switch 64in the circuit supplying current to the heating elements 25'. The motor24 is then caused to operate the rotary pump l8, and

.the liquid alloy is circulated through pipe l9.

passage i5, compartment 28, slot 26, quench pot l4, passage l3,compartment 2, pipe I6, to the pump 16. Arrows on Figs. 1 and Z'indicatethe course of the liquid alloy through the described apparatus.Sufiicient quench metal is maintained in the apparatus to fill all ofsaid recited passages and maintain a level of quench metal in quench potl4 almost to the level of plate 41 joining the end plates 46 and 45 ofvessels I and 6, respectively. This molten metal also overflows throughthe opening i' into the pump well I! where it is eflective to seal thejoints between the intake and discharge pipes l6 and iii of pump I8 andtheir respective cradles l6 and I9.

Heated wires 4| are advanced into and through iehe liquid alloy beingheld therebeneath by arms 2. the temperature of the liquid alloy, but asa result of the inclination i2 in the plate 9, this higher temperaturealloy moves rapidly to the discharge end of quench pot l4. If sufiicientheat is not lost by such alloy as it travels the above-stated route tore-enter the quench pot l4, causing its temperature as it flows throughthe main body of the quench pct 20 to become higher than desired, the

The heat abstracted from the wires raises (ill device 53 closes a switch65 in a circuit supplying electricity to a motor 63 driving a fan 63'which supplies air to the passage 3, cooling the fins 5, which have beenheated by heat abstracted from the liquid alloy flowing through passage15. When the temperature of the liquid alloy in quench pot I 4 has beenreduced to approximately 425 F. the device 53 opens the switch 65 in thecircuit to the blower motor 63.

' Similarly.-should the temperature of the alloy as it flows through themain body of quench pot drop below a desired temperature, the element 66in device 63 will move intocontact with arm 51 and the current flow tosolenoid 58 will close the switch 64 in the circuit supplying heatingcurrent to elements 26' in heating tubes 26.

When desired a high iiashoil may be supplied through nozzle 44' in theside wall of quench pot l4. This oil will form a thin layer over theliquid alloy protecting same and will overflow into the well 43 fromwhich it is withdrawnthrough the discharge 44.

When a secondary quench is desired, oil may be flooded through thetrough 31 into thequench pot M by passing through the slots 38 and 38 inthe end walls of well 36 and vessel 6, respectively, through which slotsthe wires 4| are drawn. Through the quench pot l4 the oil will flow toand over the dam 48 "into the trough 49 from which it is withdrawnthrough the discharge 60. The major portion of the oil in trough 31 iswithdrawn through the well 35 and discharge 36.- Oil withdrawn fromdischarges 36 and may be recirculatedto trough 31 by appropriate means,such as piping and a pump.

It will be understood that in this use of our present invention theincoming wires 4! which are to be quenched, will be heated by a heatingcurrent passed therethroi'igh between the alloy of the quench bath i4and an electrode in spaced relation therewith. The source from whichsuch heating current is supplied willhave one pole connected with saidspaced electrode and the other pole connected with connector-54 wherebysuch current is supplied to the molten alloy of bath l4.

The term wire and the like," when used herein, is to be understood asincludingmetal strip and other forms of metal having a length many timesgreater than any cross-sectional dimension. In its broader aspects ourinvention includes machines adapted to treat strip material as well asmachines adapted to treat drawn wires. Also our invention may be used totreat wire and the 'like made of metal other than steel, and in quenchesother than molten metal. The use *of an alloy in the describedembodiment is not to be deemed an exclusion of the use of a single metalin the quench bath when such metal is liquid at the desired temperatureof quench, or other quench medium fluid at temperature of quench.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention maybe emplnved,change beingv made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of suchbe employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as ourinvention:

1. Apparatus for use in quenching heated material, such as wire and thelike,'to a desired tem-.

perature by advancing continuously into and through a bath ofliquidz-comprising a quench pot; means operative to supply liquid tosaid pot in the section thereof from which the treated material iswithdrawn; means operative to maintain the liquid so supplied at acontrolled temperature as it enters said pot; and means operative todischarge from the pot liquid which has been heated by contact with thematerial under treatment, the transverse cross-sectional area of thesaid pot being reduced adjacent such discharge means whereby such liquidis caused to move toward and past the entering material at a speedfaster than the speed of initial movement of the liquid toward theentering material.

2. Apparatus for use in quenching heated material; such as wire and thelike, to a desired temperature by advancing continuously into andthrough a bath of liquid:comprising in combi- .temperature by advancingcontinuously into and nation a quench not; two openings in the shell ofsaid pot,.one in each opposite end thereof; a continuous passageconnecting said openings through which a liquid discharged from said potis returned thereto; means operative to circulate 5 a liquid throughsaid passage and throughsaid pot, in a direction in said not opposite tothe movement of heated material advanced therethrough; heat conductivefins integrally mounted or a wall of said passagefin longitudinalrelation therewith; and means operative to flow a fiuid coolant oversaid fins whereby the liquid circulated through said passage isdelivered to said pot at a controlled temperature.

3. Apparatus for use in quenching heated material, such as wire and thelike, to a desired temperature by advancing continuously into andthrough a bath of liquidz-comprising in combination a quench pot; acontinuous passage through which a liquid discharged from said pot isreturned thereto; means operative to circulate a liquid through saidpassage and through said pot, in a. direction in said pot ppposite tothe movement of heated material advanced therethrough; heat conductivefins integrally mounted on the outside wall or said passage inlongitudinal relation therewith; electrically driven means operative toflow a fluid coolant over said fins; and electric heating elementsassociated with said passage; means operative to, supply electriccurrent alternativelyto said coolant flowing means and to said heatingelements responsive to changes of temperature of liquid in said pot,whereby liquid circulated through said passage is delivered to said potat a controlled temperature.

4. Apparatus for use in uenching heated ma-- terial, such as wire andthe like, to a desired through a bath of liquidz-comprising in combi- 0nation a quench pot; a continuous passage through which a liquiddischarged from said pot is returned thereto; means operative tocirculate a liquid through said passage and through said pot, in adirection in said pot opposite to the movement of heated materialadvanced therethrough; means operative to cause such liquid to move pastthe entering material at a speed faster than the normal speed ofmovement 01 the liquid through the pot toward the entering material,said last named means including an inclined floor in said pot rising inthe direction of liquid flow; means operative to discharge from said potliquid which has been heated by contacting such material; and meansassociated with said passage, operative to modify the temperature ofliquid circulated therethrough whereby such liquid is delivered to saidpot at a controlled temperature.

5. Apparatus for use in quenching heated material, such as wire and thelike, to a desired temperature by advancing continuously into andthrough a bath of liquid: comprising a quench pot: means operative tosupplyliquid to said pot in the section thereof irom which the treatedmaterial is withdrawn; means operative to maintain the liquid sosupplied at a controlled temperature as it enters said pot; meansoperative to cause liquid to move past the entering material at a speedfaster than the speed of movement or the liquid through the pot towardthe entering material, said last named means including an inclined floorin said pot rising'in the direction of liquid flow: and means todischarge irom the pot liquid which has been heated by contact with thematerial under treatment.

6. Apparatus for use in quenching heated material, such as wire and thelike, to a desired temperature by advancing continuously into andthrough a bath or liquid: comprising in combination. a quench pot; acontinuous passage through which a liquid discharged from said pot isreturned thereto; means operative to circulate a liquid through saidpassage and through said pot, in a direction in saidpot opposite to themovement of heated material advanced therethrough; means operative tocause such liquid to move past the entering material at a speed fasterthan the speed of movement of the liquid toward the entering material,said last named means including an inclined floor in said pot ris.

, ing in the direction of liquid flow; means operative to discharge fromsaid pot liquid which has been heated by contacting such material; and

means associated with said passage, operative to ciated means includingheat conductive fins and groans operative to flow a fluid coolant oversaid '7. Apparatus for use in quenching heated material, such as wireand the like, to a desired temperature by advancing continuously intoand through a bath of liquid: comprising in combination a quench pot; acontinuous passage through which aliquid discharged from said pot isreturned thereto; means operative to circulate a liquid through saidpassage and through said pot, in a direction in said pot opposite to themovement of heated material advanced therethrough; means operative tocause such liquid to move past the entering material at a speed fasterthan the speed of movement of the liquid through the pot toward theentering material; means operative to discharge from said pot liquidwhich has been heated by contacting such material;

and means associated with said passage, operastream at one end of saidpot near the bottom thereof; means operative to discharge liquid fromthe other end of said pot; a passage communieating with said supplymeans and said discharge means; means operative to circulatecontinuously a liquid through said passage and said pot in a directionin saidpot opposite to that of material moving through said pot; fins,associated with said passage and operative to abstract heat from c aliquid passing therethrough; electrically driven means operative to flowa fluid coolant over said fins; electric heating elements associatedwith said passage, operative to heat a liquid flowing therethrough; andmeans supplying electric current selectively, to said electricallydriven means and said heating elements, responsive to changes in thetemperature of liquid as it enters said pot.

9. Apparatus, as described, comprising a well with said conduit at theclosed end thereof; and a pump in said well operative to iiit liquid2,848,889 therefrom and discharge same through said sup-' quench pct;means located transversely of said pot and operative to supplyhorizontally a relatively thin stream of quench liquid to said pot nearthe bottom in one end thereof; discharge means in the opposite end ofsaid poti an inclination in the floor of said pot rising toward saiddischarge means; a passage communicating with said discharge means andsaid supply means; means operative to circulate liquid continuouslythrough said passage and through said pot in a closed path; and meansassociated with said passage operative to modify the temperature ofliquid passing therethrough.

10. Apparatus, as described, comprising a quench pot; an elongatedclosed chamber located transversely of-said pot in one end thereof: aslot in a wall of said chamber extended substantially the length thereofand opening toward the opposite end of said pot; discharge means at saidopposite end; a closed passage com-' municating with said chamber andwith said discharge means; means operative to circulate a liquidcontinuously through said passage and said pot in a closed path; andmeans associated with said passage operative to control the temperatureat which liquid is delivered to said chamber.

11. Apparatus, as described, comprising an elongated pot formed of metalplates; a dis-. charge'opening insaid pot at one end thereof; acompartment below the discharge end of said pot into which said openingdischarges; an inclination in the bottom" plate of said pot risingtoward the said dischargeopening and located in the section adjacent thedischarge opening; a chamber at the opposite end of said pot, whichchamber has a restricted opening into said pot near the bottom thereof;a conduit located beneath said pot, the bottom plate of whichconstitutes the upper plate of said conduit. which conduit is closed atthe end adJac'ent the discharge end of said pot and at the opposite endcommunicates with said chamber; a well adjacent the discharge end ofsaid pot; a discharge passage connecting said discharge compartment withsaid well; a supply passage connecting said ply passage to said conduit.

12. In a quench pot as described, through which a heated wire and thelike is drawn and quenched in continuous operation, the improvementcomprising a closed passage connecting openings in opposite ends oi. thequench pot; means opera-. tiveto flow-through said passage liquidwithdrawn from one end of the quench pot and return same tothe quenchpot at the opposite end thereof; electrically driven means operative toflow a coolant over the walls of saidpassage; electrical heatingelementsinserted insaid passage; electrical heating elements inserted insaid passage; and means operative to selectively sup- 7 ply electricityto said electrically driven means and to said heating elementsresponsive to temperature changes in the liquid in the quench pot.

13. In a quench p t as describedthrough which a liquid flows andquenches heated wire and the like drawn therethrough contrawise to theflow of the liquid, the improvementcomprising an ininclined section inthe iioor-oi'the pot, which section rises toward the point at which thewire enters the liquid and attains maximum elevation tering said quenchpot, the transverse cross-sec- 'tional area of said pot being reduced inthe section wherein such material enters, whereby quench liquid iscaused to move toward and past such entering material at a speed fasterthan the speed of initial movement oi the liquid toas ward the enteringmaterial.

oscan c. mums. wrLLrArs H. WOOD.

